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Priest Pleads Guilty to Selling Explosives to Teen
Paul Gotta, a 58-year-old former Catholic priest from East Windsor, has pleaded guilty to selling explosives to a 17-year-old boy in 2012.
According to court documents, Gotta, who was residing at the rectory of St. Philip Church in East Windsor at the time, purchased two pounds of explosives powder at Riverview Gun Sales in East Windsor on two occasions in December 2012. He then distributed the explosives to the juvenile.
The investigation revealed that Gotta also aided the juvenile in the purchase of thousands of rounds of handgun ammunition in November 2012.
Gotta’s actions were part of a larger scheme that included aiding and abetting the unlawful transport of a firearm in interstate commerce, aiding and abetting the possession of a handgun by a juvenile, and obstruction of justice.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the East Windsor Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Spector.
Gotta faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on May 19, 2016.
Gotta was arrested on July 19, 2013, and has been released on bond since then.
This case highlights the dangers of unchecked access to explosives and the importance of ensuring that such materials are not in the wrong hands.
Gotta’s actions were a betrayal of the trust placed in him as a priest and member of the community.
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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